Books by Brendan A. Rapple

Poet and critic Matthew Arnold (1822-1888) was a prominent educator. One of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Elementary Schools for 35 years, he traveled abroad to report on foreign education. Though Arnold is recognized as an early proponent of comparative education, there has been little study of his work in the field. The author examines Arnold's writings and presents three related arguments--that England was well behind countries like France and Germany in "the civilization of her middle class"; that advances being made abroad were largely due to strong state education systems, and that it was essential for England to establish a system of post-elementary education modeled on foreign systems.

The Rev. Charles Kingsley, one of the Victorian age's most prolific authors, wrote poetry, novels, historical works, sermons, religious tracts, and scientific treatises, as well as political, social, and literary criticism. Among his most famous literary works are the condition-of-England novels Yeast and Alton Locke, and his historical romances Westward Ho! and Hereward the Wake. He also wrote books for children, including The Heroes, Madam How and Lady Why, and perhaps his most well known work, The Water-Babies.